n days, but it was worth it; the suffocating sounds of coughing coming from the rooms down the hall had completely stopped, and a peaceful

was a soft knock on the doo

s young nurses, walked in carrying a tray. "Co

spreading across her face as she set the tray on the table. "But it was w

hed in deeply. "God, even the smell is e

"Their fevers have completely broken. Even Daniel ate by himself today for the

f my tea. "Right diagnosi

ng in closer to the table. "But you didn't just save lives, Doc. You got on our

I said, swirling my mug. "His aura lite

r before turning back to me. "Cole

yebrows. "Wha

f lives," Nina murmured, standing up quickly as if she'd already said too much. "Anyway,

. I bolted up from the sofa and threw myself out the door. At the end of the hall, the heavy supply cart used for meds was overturned, its wheels spinnin

t." a voice yelled

ly right toward me, so I took a huge step back. But my exhaustion had

balance. My feet we

reflex, bracing

n't hit t

ds gripped my waist, catching me mid-air. M

asp escap

nt of pine and oncoming

o

ere inches from mine. I could feel the heat radiating of

f us moved. My heart ha

ed. The muscles

fraction lower on my waist. His rough thumb brushed

ling electricity shot

ilate, the stark gray in his eyes d

voice was rough. Barely

eaming at him to pull me closer. Then, exactly as fast, he ripped

k. The air rus

ce betw

wall slammed back d

my voice coming out

rom a second ago was completely gone,

en again," he said. H

the hall, leaving me shivering

at my desk in the hospital room or

finally mana

the familiar, chaotic background noise of our New York clinic. "I haven't re

my chair. "Everything is fine. We've completely

arah sighed in relief. "So,

tory of the Midnight Pack. "Not right away, Sarah. I'm going to

grin. "But watch out for that iceman, Cole. You can

h," I said with fake anno

he infirmary. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Cole quietly tucking a blanket around one of the kids. A gu

o the courtyard, the tables

les, said as she held her drink out toward me. "D

. "Let's just say your healers bowed down

ight now," Nina chimed in, sitting next to us.

bad. The Midnight Pack was so much fairer than the Crescent Pack. It was a place where people were treat

walking down the quiet, shaded path next to the hospital

hat raspy voice com

top two buttons of his shirt undone. That overwhelming aura was still th

h air," I said, leaning

inches between us, the faint memory of that electricity in the hallway still

rprised me. It's very different from my old pack. People here are more

lue here, Doctor. I don't let anyone throw

d, and started wal

pen the door, Cole's voi

anding a few steps away, the

hing happe

etting your guard down just

do you mean? Th

. "My instincts are tellin

st my ribs. "What do y

low. "Yet. But someone might have

nous howl rose from the northern

arply toward the sound.

e gravel path. A border guard em

ckly. "A delegation just arrived at the

deadly calm washing ov

ck, sir. Alpha E

r the path. The Crescent

his gray eyes. The mysterious, unnatural outbreak... and the sudden, una

, his voice freezing over, "I don't

t say a s

Cole's eyes, I had the exact same feeling. Whate

s an